2016 Triumph Thunderbird Storm ABS Lava Red

2016 Triumph Thunderbird Storm ABS

We squeezed 102cc more from the muscle-bound parallel twin engine so that it packs an even bigger punch. Still laid-back but underpinned by serious power and the best handling in the class. This is a cruiser with a dark side.

Style, performance and control. It’s a classy combination, but it only takes one look at the Triumph Thunderbird Range to instantly know they’ve got the lot. From making big miles disappear to dominating the urban landscape; whichever you choose, the world’s largest parallel twin engine has every answer.

• Same engine, same chassis, two different Thunderbirds

The Triumph Thunderbird Commander and Thunderbird LT share an underlying chassis and are powered by the same massively torquey 1699cc parallel twin engine, but they’re two very different breeds of muscle cruiser. The Thunderbird Commander has the essential power-cruiser style and broad, dynamic riding stance to utterly dominate any road and ride. Meanwhile the Triumph Thunderbird LT is loaded with the easy-going, laid-back vibe of a premium classic touring cruiser, as well as a host of long-distance accessories.

The Triumph Thunderbird engines look every cubic inch a classic cruiser motor, designed with Triumph’s unique, big-bore parallel twin twist. But don’t be fooled by the air-cooling fins. Because inside is a modern, high-performance, water-cooled power plant with sophisticated electronic fuel injection and engine management, built with Triumph’s cutting-edge quality and durability.

• CONFIGURATION

With forged pistons the size of saucers, the Thunderbird Storm, Commander and Thunderbird LT’s 1699cc, eight-valve, water-cooled parallel twin is engineered with a 270° firing interval for a chunky, charismatic power delivery. Twin balance shafts soothe low frequency vibes, allowing the Thunderbird’s pulsating torque to be felt across the rev range.

• PERFORMANCE

At a colossal 1699cc, the world’s largest parallel twin engine powering the Triumph Thunderbird Commander and Thunderbird LT packs a mighty big punch, pounding out a remarkable 94PS and truly staggering 151Nm at 3550rpm. This barn-storming low down performance makes it the perfect engine for anything from effortlessly relaxed cruising across entire continents on the Thunderbird LT to cutting a domineering dash along today’s roads on the Thunderbird Commander. But with phenomenal overtaking power always on tap whichever gear you’re in, your Thunderbird is never found wanting.

Meanwhile the 1699cc Thunderbird Storm engine thumps out a fulsome 98PS and a simply colossal 156Nm of torque. It means the Thunderbird Storm’s low down power deliveries are specifically engineered to suit the chilled-out cruising vibe, but come fully armed with serious performance under the tank to lay down the law when action is called for.

• GEARBOX-TRANSMISSION

The Triumph Thunderbird’s smooth, six-speed gear ratios deliver every ounce of the engine’s torque-rich performance, from the intense thrust of first gear right the way to an overdrive top gear for relaxed cruising and exceptional fuel efficiency. But with phenomenal overtaking power always on tap whichever gear you’re in, the Thunderbird is never found wanting.

• BELT DRIVE

The Triumph Thunderbird belt drive, with carbon fibre in the belt and a tungsten carbide treatment on the rear pulley, has a higher tensile strength than steel and ensures snatch-free transmission with high durability and almost no maintenance compared to chain-drive. And it doesn’t need oiling.